Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

[Mos]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

You guys hear about Israel using Azerbaijan's airfields? Disgusting how Azerbaijan has become Israel's dog. Becoming more pro-Israel than US lol...

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

You guys hear about Israel using Azerbaijan's airfields? Disgusting how Azerbaijan has become Israel's dog. Becoming more pro-Israel than US lol...

Report: Israel's "Secret Staging Ground" Is Azerbaijan
March 28, 2012 - 8:30pm, by Joshua Kucera The Bug Pit Azerbaijan Iran Israel


Israel has gained access to airfields in Azerbaijan, possibly so that Israeli aircraft could land there after attacking Iran, a new report in Foreign Policy magazine says:

[F]our senior diplomats and military intelligence officers say that the United States has concluded that Israel has recently been granted access to airbases on Iran's northern border. To do what, exactly, is not clear. "The Israelis have bought an airfield," a senior administration official told me in early February, "and the airfield is called Azerbaijan."

Senior U.S. intelligence officials are increasingly concerned that Israel's military expansion into Azerbaijan complicates U.S. efforts to dampen Israeli-Iranian tensions, according to the sources. Military planners, I was told, must now plan not only for a war scenario that includes the Persian Gulf -- but one that could include the Caucasus.

A few weeks ago, when Azerbaijan's $1.6 billion arms deal with Israel was announced, this blog discounted the idea that Azerbaijan would get involved in a potential Israeli attack on Iran, arguing that the risks for Azerbaijan are too high and the potential gains unclear. The exception would be if Azerbaijan's influence were so discreet as to allow Baku some plausible deniability; then Iran probably wouldn't stand to gain from attacking Azerbaijan. According to the FP report, the most likely use for the Azerbaijan airfields would be so that Israeli aircraft could land there after an attack, obviating the need for mid-air refueling en route to Iran, which Israel isn't particularly experienced with and which would reduce the amount of weapons the planes could take on each sortie:

The U.S. intelligence and diplomatic officials told me they believe that Israel has gained access to these airbases through a series of quiet political and military understandings. "I doubt that there's actually anything in writing," added a senior retired American diplomat who spent his career in the region. "But I don't think there's any doubt -- if Israeli jets want to land in Azerbaijan after an attack, they'd probably be allowed to do so...."

Access to such airfields is important for Israel, because it would mean that Israeli F-15I and F-16I fighter-bombers would not have to refuel midflight during a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, but could simply continue north and land in Azerbaijan. Defense analyst David Isenberg describes the ability to use Azeri airfields as "a significant asset" to any Israel strike, calculating that the 2,200-mile trip from Israel to Iran and back again would stretch Israel's warplanes to their limits. "Even if they added extra fuel tanks, they'd be running on fumes," Isenberg told me, "so being allowed access to Azeri airfields would be crucial."

Former CENTCOM commander Gen. Joe Hoar simplified Israel's calculations: "They save themselves 800 miles of fuel," he told me in a recent telephone interview. "That doesn't guarantee that Israel will attack Iran, but it certainly makes it more doable."

I'm not sure that would afford Azerbaijan the deniability they'd need to avoid a retaliatory attack from Iran. Surely Iran would be able to see where the Israeli jets were going after their attack. Azerbaijan's defense minister visited Tehran earlier this month and promised that Azerbaijan would not be used as a launchpad from which to attack Iran. FP reports: "A U.S. military intelligence officer noted that Azeri defense minister did not explicitly bar Israeli bombers from landing in the country after a strike. Nor did he rule out the basing of Israeli search-and-rescue units in the country." That is a pretty legalistic parsing of Azerbaijan's promises, and it seems unlikely Tehran would think much of it.

So what is Azerbaijan thinking here?

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/65195

That just goes to show you what kind of backstabbing country azerbaijan is. The agreement is probably if Israel attacks Iran with azerbaijan's help then azerbaijan would receive Northern Iran or maybe Israel would aid azerbaijan in an attack against Karabakh. I think it could be one of those 2 options because why else would azerbaijan risk pissing Iran off. I wonder what Russia thinks of all this?

[Spetsnaz]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani soldier’s father asks ICRC to visit his son in Armenian captivity


[ 29 Mar 2012 17:38 ]
Baku. Kamala Guliyeva – APA. Father of the Azerbaijani soldier Akhundzadeh Mammadbagir captured by Armenians in Terter region of Azerbaijan on January 23, 2012, is concerned about that ICRC representatives don’t visit his son in captivity.

Talib Akhundzadeh told APA that he worries about his son’s fate and addressed the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) asking to visit his son: “I was told that ICRC representatives will visit Mammadbaghir soon. I addressed the relevant state agencies of Azerbaijan to assist return of my son to home. I was told that they are working for his return.”

Corporal of Azerbaijani Army Akhundzadeh Mammadbaghuir Talib, born 1990, was captured by the Armenians near Yukhari Chayli village of Azerbaijan’s Terter region on line of contact between the Armenian and Azerbaijani troops. Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan confirmed the fact of captivity. ICRC representatives visited him on February 14, 2012.

[Haykakan]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Report: Israel's "Secret Staging Ground" Is Azerbaijan
March 28, 2012 - 8:30pm, by Joshua Kucera The Bug Pit Azerbaijan Iran Israel


Israel has gained access to airfields in Azerbaijan, possibly so that Israeli aircraft could land there after attacking Iran, a new report in Foreign Policy magazine says:



A few weeks ago, when Azerbaijan's $1.6 billion arms deal with Israel was announced, this blog discounted the idea that Azerbaijan would get involved in a potential Israeli attack on Iran, arguing that the risks for Azerbaijan are too high and the potential gains unclear. The exception would be if Azerbaijan's influence were so discreet as to allow Baku some plausible deniability; then Iran probably wouldn't stand to gain from attacking Azerbaijan. According to the FP report, the most likely use for the Azerbaijan airfields would be so that Israeli aircraft could land there after an attack, obviating the need for mid-air refueling en route to Iran, which Israel isn't particularly experienced with and which would reduce the amount of weapons the planes could take on each sortie:



I'm not sure that would afford Azerbaijan the deniability they'd need to avoid a retaliatory attack from Iran. Surely Iran would be able to see where the Israeli jets were going after their attack. Azerbaijan's defense minister visited Tehran earlier this month and promised that Azerbaijan would not be used as a launchpad from which to attack Iran. FP reports: "A U.S. military intelligence officer noted that Azeri defense minister did not explicitly bar Israeli bombers from landing in the country after a strike. Nor did he rule out the basing of Israeli search-and-rescue units in the country." That is a pretty legalistic parsing of Azerbaijan's promises, and it seems unlikely Tehran would think much of it.

So what is Azerbaijan thinking here?

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/65195

That just goes to show you what kind of backstabbing country azerbaijan is. The agreement is probably if Israel attacks Iran with azerbaijan's help then azerbaijan would receive Northern Iran or maybe Israel would aid azerbaijan in an attack against Karabakh. I think it could be one of those 2 options because why else would azerbaijan risk pissing Iran off. I wonder what Russia thinks of all this?

Russia has moved a huge number of troops north of Azerbadjan. I posted an article about it the other day. Many batalions including special forces. Something big could be bruing here and i hate the fact that Armenia is always caught up in the middle of all these wars between super powers. Our biggest problem is that we do not have a border with Russia and Russian reinforcements may have a hard time getting to us if needed. If the azeris loose this kind of war they will be done as a state but the same can be said for Armenia to so the stakes are very high for both sides.

[Etchmiadzin]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Russia has moved a huge number of troops north of Azerbadjan. I posted an article about it the other day. Many batalions including special forces. Something big could be bruing here and i hate the fact that Armenia is always caught up in the middle of all these wars between super powers. Our biggest problem is that we do not have a border with Russia and Russian reinforcements may have a hard time getting to us if needed. If the azeris loose this kind of war they will be done as a state but the same can be said for Armenia to so the stakes are very high for both sides.

Is there any information about where in Dagestan the troops are located? and has Russia given any reason they have been moved there?

[UrMistake]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

We must find solutions in the past , how our forefathers did with Parthia to the south of us ? History repeats its self folks we must be smart this time choose our moves.

[HyeFighter2]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Is there any information about where in Dagestan the troops are located? and has Russia given any reason they have been moved there?

from old news i read theyr near azeri border,russia gives reason for trainings and special force for destroy caucasian terrorists.

[burjuin]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Armenian Army
The front line

[retro]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

You guys hear about Israel using Azerbaijan's airfields? Disgusting how Azerbaijan has become Israel's dog. Becoming more pro-Israel than US lol...

The danger to Israel is Egypt, not Iran and the Iranians are way out of their depth with Izzy and his Turkish cronies.

'Azerbaijan granted Israel access to air bases on Iran border'

Foreign Policy quotes U.S. diplomats as saying that 'Israel is deeply embedded in Azerbaijan' and says intelligence officials worried that Israel's military involvement in Azerbaijan would complicate efforts to reduce Israeli-Iranian tensions.

Israel has been granted access to air bases in Azerbaijan on Iran's northern border, Foreign Policy reported Wednesday, quoting senior U.S. diplomats and military intelligence officials.

"The Israelis have bought an airfield," a senior U.S. administration official told Foreign Policy's Mark Perry, "and the airfield is called Azerbaijan."

According to the report, U.S. intelligence officials are worried that Israel's military involvement in Azerbaijan would make it more difficult for the U.S. to reduce Israeli-Iranian tensions. Apparently now, military planners must prepare for a war scenario that would also involve the Caucasus.

"We're watching what Iran does closely," said a U.S. intelligence officer involved in assessing the consequences of a potential Israeli strike on Iran. "But we're now watching what Israel is doing in Azerbaijan. And we're not happy about it."

In February, Israel signed a $1.6 billion arms deal with Azerbaijan, committing to sell drones and anti-aircraft missile defense systems to Baku. According to a retired U.S. diplomat, the deal left Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan "sputtering in rage," since Israel had previously canceled a contract to develop drones with the Turkish military.

The report said that the Azeri military has four abandoned, Soviet-era airfields that could be available to Israel and four air bases for their own aircraft, quoting the International Institute for Strategic Studies' Military Balance 2011.

U.S. officials told Foreign Policy that they believe Israel has been granted access to these air bases through a "series of quiet political and military understandings."

"I doubt that there's actually anything in writing," said a former U.S. diplomat who spent his career in the region. "But I don't think there's any doubt - if Israeli jets want to land in Azerbaijan after an attack, they'd probably be allowed to do so. Israel is deeply embedded in Azerbaijan, and has been for the last two decades."
......
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomac...order-1.421428

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Russia has moved a huge number of troops north of Azerbadjan. I posted an article about it the other day. Many batalions including special forces. Something big could be bruing here and i hate the fact that Armenia is always caught up in the middle of all these wars between super powers. Our biggest problem is that we do not have a border with Russia and Russian reinforcements may have a hard time getting to us if needed. If the azeris loose this kind of war they will be done as a state but the same can be said for Armenia to so the stakes are very high for both sides.

If war does break out Armenia will be able to defend themselves against azerbaijan. If Turkey enters the war and attacks Armenia, why they would attack Armenia i dont know, it will be devastating. Israel will use azerbaijan to attack Iran so Iran will attack azerbaijan. Russia will also attack azerbaijan, hopefully because of the agreement Armenia and Russia signed a few years back stating Russia will attack anyone that attacks Armenia. That would cause Israel to back off and hopefully Iran, Russia and Armenia keep attacking and split up azerbaijan. I know this will not happen as the US and Turkey will never allow that outcome but a guy can dream cant he?

Also
Armenia, U.S. Set To Expand Military Cooperation
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian expects Armenia's military cooperation with the United States to broaden in the near future after a series of high-level meetings he held in Washington last week.

Seyran Ohanian paid a working visit to the United States on March 19-23 during which he met at the Pentagon with U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and also held meetings with other senior American officials, including CIA Director David Petraeus.

Talking to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am) on Thursday, the Armenian defense minister said military cooperation with the United States was in its “normal course”.

“It expands from year to year particularly in terms of assistance in the implementation of reforms and on the level of expertise on all matters,” Ohanian said. “We will expand our cooperation within the framework of existing programs.”

In April, the U.S. and Armenian militaries are expected to hold their first-ever joint exercises aimed at improving the interoperability of their forces deployed in Afghanistan. A top official from the U.S. European Command discussed preparations for the weeklong exercises with Ohanian during a visit to Yerevan last month.

Plans for the landmark drills were first made public after Armenian Deputy Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan paid a visit to Washington in July 2011 for what official Yerevan described as “defense consultations” with U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Alexander Vershbow and other senior Pentagon officials.

Tonoyan visited Washington shortly after Armenia almost tripled its participation in NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for Afghanistan. It currently has about 130 troops on the ground.

During Ohanian’s March 23 meeting at the Pentagon, U.S. Defense Chief Panetta also expressed appreciation for Yerevan’s “strong contributions” to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan and to the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo.

http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24531342.html

according to this article the Americans love Ohanian

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/65187